The Federal Government has presented a renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing it as a major step toward restoring stability, confidence and quality in Nigeria’s public university system.
Speaking at the formal presentation of the agreement in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the deal reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to affordable, high-quality education and an uninterrupted academic calendar.
According to Alausa, the President took direct responsibility for resolving disputes that have plagued the university system for decades.
“For decades, unresolved remuneration concerns, welfare gaps, and recurring industrial disputes disrupted academic calendars, undermined staff morale, and threatened the future of our young people,” he said.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we deliberately chose dialogue over discord, reform over delay, and resolution over rhetoric.”
The minister explained that a major component of the agreement is a review of the remuneration package for academic staff in federal tertiary institutions, approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and effective from January 1, 2026.
He disclosed that the salaries of university lecturers have been increased by 40 per cent to improve morale, enhance productivity, strengthen global competitiveness and reduce brain drain.
According to him, the increase is captured under a consolidated academic tools allowance, a component unique to university academic staff within the salary structure.
He said the allowance covers expenses related to journal publications, conference attendance, internet services, membership of learned societies and book purchases, describing them as vital for effective teaching, research and international relevance.
Alausa added that nine previously earned academic allowances have now been clearly structured, made transparent and linked strictly to duties performed, to encourage productivity, accountability and fairness.
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He also announced the introduction of a new professorial credit allowance, describing it as the first of its kind approved by the Federal Government.
The allowance, he said, applies strictly to full-time professors and academic readers in recognition of their extensive academic, administrative and research responsibilities.
Under the new arrangement, professors will receive an additional N1.8 million annually, translating to about N140,000 monthly, while academic readers will earn N840,000 per year, or N70,000 monthly.
The minister said the allowance is intended to support research coordination, academic documentation, correspondence and administrative efficiency, allowing senior academics to focus more on teaching, mentorship, innovation and knowledge creation.
He added that implementation of the agreement has already begun, noting that the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission issued a circular directing full implementation of the wage component.
According to him, the circular dated December 30, 2025, ensures the agreement takes effect from January 1, 2026, in line with the government’s pledge.
Also speaking, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, recalled that the 2009 agreement, which should have been renegotiated in 2012, suffered prolonged delays.
He said the 2025 agreement emerged from a renegotiation process that began in 2017 to revitalise Nigeria’s university system.
Pinuwa explained that several renegotiation committees set up between 2017 and 2022—chaired by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jibrin and Nimi Briggs—failed to produce a collective bargaining agreement.
According to him, progress was made after the current administration inaugurated a new committee led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed in October 2024, culminating in an agreement about 14 months later.
He said the deal addresses conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, academic freedom and broader reforms aimed at reversing decay, curbing brain drain and repositioning universities for national development.
Pinuwa commended Ahmed, members of the renegotiation team, the Minister of Education and President Tinubu for their commitment to concluding the process.
However, he noted that some challenges remain, particularly government interference in university autonomy.
“As we are here with joy for a successful collective bargaining between ASUU and the federal government, we need to note that there are still pending issues, which are more internal,” he said.
“This issue is dragging the progress and survival of the university system: the government’s persistent encroachment into the autonomy of the universities.
“University autonomy is universally recognised as a cornerstone of a functional higher education system.
“In Nigeria, although university autonomy is recognised in principle and partially entrenched in law, its practical implementation remains weak.”